Two years have passed since the Trump administration implemented the controversial Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), also known as "Remain in Mexico." This program has caused significant hardships for thousands of asylum seekers who have been denied meaningful opportunities to seek protection in the United States. The Nido Nylund Law Offices stand ready to assist immigrant families facing difficulties due to this program and offer solutions to help restore their rights.
Two years have passed since the Trump administration implemented the controversial Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), also known as "Remain in Mexico." This program has caused significant hardships for thousands of asylum seekers who have been denied meaningful opportunities to seek protection in the United States. The Nido Nylund Law Offices stand ready to assist immigrant families facing difficulties due to this program and offer solutions to help restore their rights.
Under MPP, asylum seekers arriving at the southern border have been sent back to Mexico to await court hearings in precarious conditions, with limited access to legal representation. The program violates due process and human rights, especially since March 2020, when MPP hearings were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, the Trump administration continued to enforce MPP, sending over 5,500 individuals back to Mexico during the pandemic.
Fortunately, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on President Biden's first day in office that it would cease placing new asylum seekers into MPP. However, the administration has yet to fully dismantle the program or offer relief to those still waiting in Mexico. In response, asylum seekers sent an open letter to President Biden and Vice President Harris, urging them to end MPP and other anti-asylum border policies.
Although the exact number of asylum seekers still in MPP is uncertain, it is believed to be significantly fewer than 20,000. Many have been ordered deported or forced to abandon their asylum claims. Moreover, at least 1,314 violent crimes against MPP participants have been documented, and several individuals, including a child, have died after being sent back to Mexico.
To protect those still in Mexico under M PP, the Biden administration should allocate resources to ports of entry to process individuals with pending MPP cases. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) can issue parole to MPP participants, allowing them to reenter the United States. Nonprofit organizations can then assist these individuals in reaching their final destinations and provide case management services. However, the administration's work does not end with dismantling MPP. Those already deported under MPP should be given a second chance at protection in the United States. The Biden administration could enable this by designating such individuals eligible for the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.
Restoring asylum at the border requires more than just reversing MPP. The Biden administration must address other policies obstructing asylum access, such as using an obscure public health law to expel newly arriving immigrants during the COVID-19 pandemic and implementing "metering" or waiting lists for asylum seekers at ports of entry. Furthermore, the administration should terminate the "Asylum Cooperative Agreements" with Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador that allow the U.S. to send people to these countries to seek asylum, despite their inability to provide adequate protection.
To build a more compassionate asylum process at the border, the Biden administration must end the practice of detaining tens of thousands of asylum seekers annually and restore access to the asylum system. The Nido Nylund Law Offices are dedicated to helping immigrant families navigate these challenges and advocating for a fair and humane immigration system. If you or someone you know is facing hardship due to the Migrant Protection Protocols, contact our experienced immigration attorneys for assistance and guidance.
For more information, call us at 713-678-0582 or 202-256-9541 for your free consultation with one of our immigration attorneys.
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